St. John Damascene: The saints

“ARE not those then worthy of honor who are the patrons of the whole race, and truly make intercession to God for us? Truly we ought to give honor to them by raising temples to God in their name, bringing them first-fruits, honoring their memories and taking spiritual delight in them, in order that the joy of those who call on us may be ours, that in our attempts at worship God will take pleasure in those things whereby God is worshipped, while his shield-bearers will be angry at those things at which God is angry.”

~St. John Damascene (c. 675 – 749): Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 4, 15.

Virgin and Child in Glory with Saints, by Giovanni Battista Carlone.

Oil on canvas, 1655; private collection.